x Doritaenopsis plant named ‘Fruit Punch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Doritaenopsis  plant named ‘Fruit Punch’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong leaves; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; purplish red-colored flowers with greenish yellow-colored margins; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis).

Cultivar denomination: ‘FRUIT PUNCH’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Doritaenopsis Plants

Inventor: René Schoone

Filed: Jun. 6, 2020

Ser. No. 62/705,005

Inventor and Applicant/Assignee hereby claims the benefit of thisprovisional U.S. Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR and APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application,Floricultura B.V. of Heemskerk, The Netherlands on Mar. 18, 2021,application number 2021/0824. Foreign priority is not claimed to thisEuropean Community Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of xDoritaenopsis plant, botanically known as x Doritaenopsis (Doritis xPhalaenopsis), commonly referred to as Doritaenopsis and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Fruit Punch’.

The new Doritaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Nantou, Taiwan and Heemskerk, TheNetherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop newfast-growing and freely flowering Doritaenopsis plants with good leafshape and large flowers with unique and attractive patterns andcoloration.

The new Doritaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination inFebruary, 2008 in Nantou, Taiwan of x Doritaenopsis ‘Sweet Strawberry’,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with x Doritaenopsis‘Sunrise Red Peoker’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Doritaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment inHeemskerk, The Netherlands in February, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Doritaenopsis plant by in vitro meristempropagation in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlandssince February, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this newDoritaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis have been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fruit Punch’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fruit Punch’ as a new and distinctDoritaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Strong leaves.    -   4. Strong flowering stems.    -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per        plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.    -   6. Purplish red-colored flowers with greenish yellow-colored        margins.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Sweet Strawberry’. Plants of the new Doritaenopsis differprimarily from plants of ‘Sweet Strawberry’ in flower color as plants ofthe new Doritaenopsis have purplish red-colored flowers with greenishyellow-colored margins whereas plants of ‘Sweet Strawberry’ have redpurple-colored flowers without a contrasting colored margin.

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Sunrise Red Peoker’. Plants of the new Doritaenopsis differprimarily from plants of ‘Sunrise Red Peoker’ in flower color as plantsof the new Doritaenopsis have purplish red-colored flowers with greenishyellow-colored margins whereas plants of ‘Sunrise Red Peoker’ have darkpurple-colored flowers without a contrasting colored margin.

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis can be compared to plants of xDoritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis) ‘Secret Fragrance’, not patented.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Doritaenopsis differprimarily from plants of ‘Secret Fragrance’ in flower color as plants ofthe new Doritaenopsis have purplish red-colored flowers with greenishyellow-colored margins whereas plants of ‘Secret Fragrance’ haveviolet-colored flowers without a contrasting colored margin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Doritaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Doritaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Fruit Punch’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Fruit Punch’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the early spring in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heemskerk, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typically used in commercial Doritaenopsisproduction. Plants were 18 months old when the photographs anddescription were taken. During the first twelve months of production ofthe plants, day and night temperatures averaged 27° C. During the finalsix months of production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20°C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. Duringthe 18 months of production, light levels ranged from a minimum of 5,000lux to a maximum of 10,000 lux. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis)    ‘Fruit Punch’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis)            ‘Sweet Strawberry’, not patented.        -   Male parent.—x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis)            ‘Sunrise Red Peoker’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About two weeks            at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About 20 to 25 weeks at temperatures about 28° C. to            30° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically grey to green in            color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Low amount of branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; relatively            compact and upright plant habit with typically two            inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous            flowers; monopodial; moderately vigorous growth habit and            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About            13.8 cm.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of            inflorescences.—About 32.8 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 25.2 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about            six leaves per plant.        -   Length.—About 19.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Aspect.—Outwardly arching.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to narrowly oblong; slightly carinate.        -   Apex.—Unequal acute to acute.        -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: About 1.4 cm. Sheath width:            About 1.2 cm. Sheath color: Close to 144C.        -   Margin.—Entire; slightly revolute.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to a blend of 146A            and 146B; margin edges tinged with close to N200B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to a blend of 137B and            146A; venation, close to NN137B. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 146B; margin edges, close to NN137B;            venation, close to 143A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers            arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two            inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about 25            flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching inflorescences            supported by upright peduncles; flowers with three petals,            two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a            labellum and three sepals.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about six months            after planting; plants flower naturally during the winter            into the spring.        -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers            maintain good substance for about eight weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence            apex).—About 21.7 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 17.6 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm by            11 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Center, close to 152A to            152B; towards the apex and base, close to N199A.        -   Flower size.—About 4.5 cm (vertical) by 4.9 cm (horizontal).        -   Flower depth.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals            and one center petal transformed into a labellum.        -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm.            Shape: Rhomboidal to broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse to            shallowly retuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 187D; towards the            apex, close to N78A; margin edges, close to 150A; venation,            close to 187D. When opening, lower surface: Close to a blend            of 152D and 160A; towards the margins, close to 182B, and            margin edges, close to 150A. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 64A; towards the apex, close to 64B; margin edges,            close to 151D; venation, slightly darker than 64A; color            does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 75D; towards the margins, close to            185C to 185D; margin edges, close to 151D; color does not            change with subsequent development.        -   Labella.—Appearance: Three-parted with two lateral lobes and            a central lobe. Length, lateral lobes: About 1.2 cm. Width,            lateral lobes: About 7 mm. Length, central lobe: About            2.4 cm. Width, central lobe: About 4 mm to 14 mm. Shape,            lateral lobes: Obovate; convex. Shape, central lobe:            Obovate. Apex, lateral lobes: Rounded. Apex, central lobe:            Truncate. Margins, lateral and central lobes: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous, moderately velvety; matte. Callosities: Located at            the base of the labellum and attachment point of the lateral            petals; about 4 mm in length, about 3 mm in width and about            2 mm in height. Color: When opening, upper surface: Lateral            lobes: Close to a blend of 183B and 187B; at the base, close            to 159D tinged with close to 160C with dots, close to 187B.            Central lobe: Close to 183A; towards the apex, close to            187D; towards the margins, close to 9B and 84D; at the base            (at column connection), close to 157D with radial stripes,            close to 187D. Callosities: Close to 12B with fine dots,            close to 187D. When opening, lower surface: Lateral lobes:            Close to 183D; towards the apex, close to 187C and 187D; at            the base, close to 156B. Central lobe: Close to 151A and            151B; towards the apex, close to 76C and 76D; towards the            margins, close to 183A; at the base (at column connection),            close to 157A. Fully opened, upper surface: Lateral lobes:            Close to 184B; at the base, close to 159D tinged with close            to 160C with dots, close to 187B. Central lobe: Close to            183A; towards the apex, close to 187D; towards the margins,            close to 9B and 84D; at the base (at column connection),            close to 157D with radial stripes, close to 187D.            Callosities: Close to 12A with fine dots, close to 187D.            Fully opened, lower surface: Lateral lobes: Close to 183D;            towards the apex, close to 187C and 187D; at the base, close            to 156B. Central lobe: Close to 151B; towards the apex,            close to 76C and 76D; at the base (at column connection),            close to 157C; central lobe margin edges, close to 183A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, one upper dorsal            sepal and two lower lateral sepals. Length, dorsal sepal:            About 2.7 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 2.7 cm. Length,            lateral sepals: About 2.6 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About            2.7 cm. Shape, dorsal sepal: Elliptic to slightly obovate.            Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Apex, dorsal and lateral            sepals: Acute. Base, dorsal and lateral sepals: Truncate.            Margin, dorsal and lateral sepals: Entire. Texture and            luster, dorsal and lateral sepals, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color, dorsal sepal: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 187C; venation, close to            187B; margin edges, close to 150C. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 152D; towards the margins, tinged with            close to 183C; margin edges, close to 151D. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 61A; towards the base, tinged with            close to N78B; venation, close to a blend of 59A and 61A;            margin edges, close to 150D. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to a blend of 157A and 196B; towards the margins,            close to 182B and 182C; margin edges, close to 150D. Color,            lateral sepals: When opening, upper surface: Distally, close            to 184B with venation, close to 187B to 187C; proximally,            close to 151C with venation, close to 184A and 187C; margin            edges, close to 150C. When opening, lower surface: Close to            152D; towards the margins, slightly tinged with close to            183C; margin edges, close to 151D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Distally, close to 61A tinged with close to 150D            with venation, close to 187D; proximally, close to 150D with            venation, close to 187D; margin edges, close to 150C to            150D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to a blend of 157A            and 196B; towards the margins, slightly tinged with close to            182B and 182C; margin edges, close to 150D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 33.6 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly arching.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to            146A densely covered with fine dots, close to 200A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° from peduncle            axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            Close to 148A; distally, close to N170D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 9 mm.            Column width: About 5 mm. Column color: Close to N75A and            N75B; distal blotch, close to 76D. Pollinia quantity: Two.            Pollinia diameter (per two pollinia): About 2 mm. Pollinia            color: Close to 21B. Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 3 mm.            Stigma width: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma            color: Close to N155B. Ovary length: About 8 mm. Ovary            diameter: About 1 mm. Ovary color: Close to 150D. Seeds and            fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Doritaenopsis.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Doritaenopsis    have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Doritaenopsis plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Doritaenopsis have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15° C. to about    40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Doritaenopsis plant named ‘FruitPunch’ as illustrated and described.